Water pump running

[EricE]

First trip out in our new fiver. Something is going on with the water system that I just can’t figure out. I am familiar with trailer water systems and I know that the pump will cycle at various intervals until you have purged all the air out of the lines. Once that is done the pump should stay off indefinitely unless you use water someplace, at which time it should come on and then go off within a few seconds of you turning off the water.

Here is what is happening. Whenever we return to the trailer after being gone for a few hours, the water pump is running constantly (it does not sound like it is under load). I have inspected the pad under the trailer but no water is evident anywhere. It continues to run until I run the bathroom sink and shower hot and cold (perhaps toilet too). All those lines seem to purge additional air each time. After I do that, the pump will turn off and remain off for a while. I can’t say how long, a few hours at least.
So air is entering my lines but water is not leaking out. I would think that if one of the bathroom faucets were leaking, they would drip, but they are not and the toilet bowl doesn’t fill with water.

Does this sound like anything anybody out there has come across?
Thanks in advance for any advice you have to offer.

[EricE]

I believe I have solved this problem. On the water pump where the filtertration system was mounted, it has a little dome that just screws into the pump. That dome was not screwed in tightly and was allowing air into the system. I tightened that and all the connections to the pump...and initial indications are that the problem has gone away. I will tested after being gone for a few hours, but I think I have it licked.

[Steeljag]

Hopefully that worked !

[fonzie]

The dome you are talking I believe is the strainer to the pump intake? It is to remove coarse sediments.

[KyDan]

Great. It sounds like you found the problem.

Are you sure your water heater is full of water??

I found loose screw hose clamps on the water pump in 2 different trailers
made by 2 different manufacturers over the years.
One blew the hose off and started pumping out in my storage area!!
Luckily we were in the trailer at the time and got the pump off pretty quickly.
On another my wife found the carpet wet on her side of the bed and
again it was a loose screw clamp on a flex hose at or near the water pump.

It's a good idea to check all fittings you can access on a new trailer.
I hate that we have to do this but it seems the norm.

Good luck! Happy Camping!

[retiredcamper47]

When using my water pump, I always turn it off whenever I leave the trailer. You just never know what might happen while you are gone. Better safe than sorry.

Bob

[EricE]

fonzie, yes, that is the "dome" and what I tightened. The issue has gone away so that was the cause.

I did check the water heater had water in it before using it. With the pump on, I pulled the safety valve lever and water sprayed out...check.

[Electra glide]

I have a similar issue this year with my water pump. It randomly comes on for like a second and then shuts off. We have gotten to the point we turn it off when not using water. My pump is in the underbelly behind a wall that goes clear across the underbelly storage. Next trip I'll have to remove everything and remove that wall to check my pump for this issue as well.